The UK branch of an independent network of news sites is back online after the FBI ordered its hosting company to hand over the hard disks of its servers.

Indymedia, a radical news portal that claims to offer "non-corporate, non-commercial coverage of important social and political issues" was taken offline following a court order served by the FBI.

Indymedia said the order was apparently issued by a US District Court and served by the FBI on behalf of an unnamed government.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is currently assisting Indymedia in investigating possible responses to the seizure of its information.

More than 20 Indymedia-related websites, along with Indymedia's online radio, were hosted on the servers.

"This seizure has grave implications for free speech and privacy," said EFF staff attorney Kurt Opsahl.

"The Constitution does not permit the government unilaterally to cut off the speech of an independent media outlet, especially without providing a reason or even allowing Indymedia the information necessary to contest the seizure."